Mechanical shaver



Feb."l3, 1945. H. G. wYsE MECHANICAL SHAYER Filed June 13, 1938 end.

' Patented Feb. 13, 1945 oFFicE (ci. sli-4,.` si

l 'This` *.tofpower operated hair 1 clippers ormechanical razors; and moreparticuiarlyvto a. dry shaver or 'felectric" razor ofthe rotary type and the mode of operation thereof.

Heretofore, sundry `forms ofv mechanical shavers have been devised wherein the cutter mem-ber is subject .to rapid reciprocatory, vibratoryfor 'a rotor element or improved forint-and eiiicient design.

rotary motion relative to a cooperating comb or slotted guard member. while in., contact `engagement therewith toeect definite shearing action upon hairs entering Vthe slots of the guard.` In such assemblies lthe cutter= and guard elements are subject to excessive wear, become unduly heated while in use as result of friction between such parts, necessitate high power consumption, are noisy in operation, transmit vibrations, and

vpossess otherv` objectionable features.

'I'he rotary shaver forming the subject matter hereof is designed 'to obviate such undesirable factors and while itl may be adjusted to afford similar shearing. action between the rotor and guard, it is, preferably operated on a somewhat different principle wherein the rotor is given slight clearance relative `to the guard whereby it may rotate freely without friction or development of heat with less power requirement, and will vsever the engaged hairs by pinching or squeezing them oli between the rapidly rotating member and the guard, with increased beneficial eifect upon the remaining hair stub.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction .as well as the means and mode of operation of dryshaversor mechanical razors whereby they may not onlyy be economically manufactured, but will be more eflicient inA use, uniform in action, of increased durability, having `relatively-adjustable coacting hair severing elements whereby they may'be readily and quickly adjusted according to the character and thickness yof the haiixtobetfut,v` andvtoenable the instrument to--be adjusted at will for either shearing or `pinching hairsevering action. t.

-A further object of the invention is to provide A furtherl obiectof the invention is to provide animproved form of slotted'suard or comb of such shape as to present the hair in most advantageous relation for severing closely to the skin.

A furtherobiect of the invention is to provide a power shaver which may be used with increased safety, and wherein the skin is amply protected against abrasion, cutting or other injury.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for adjusting the cooperating elements for different conditions of use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power operated shaver of convenient shape, compact construction and'pleasing appearance.

n A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical razor having the herein mentioned advantageous structural features and meritorious characteristics.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully .appear in the speciiication, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations. thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview ofthe mechanical shaver forming the subject matter hereof.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the assembled instrument.

Fig. 3 isa detail perspective view of the rotor member.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the head of the instrument showing the relation of the rotor and guard elements to each other and to the hairs being severed.

Fig. 5 is a similar detail sectional view of a modified form of operating head.

Fiss. 6 and 7 illustrate further variations of the shape of the guard and cooperating rotor.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the guard cap.`

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the severance ofthe hair by pinching action.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

. In the drawing I indicates the handle of the instrument, which is shaped'to conveniently and comfortably tit the hand of the user, and which also duo-functionally forms the housing or casingior the actuating motor. The motor may be oi' any suitable type or construction. That illustrated includes an armature 2, the shaft 8 of which is mounted in anti-friction bearingsv I `vithin the handle or housing I, which in' this instance further comprises the stator or iield lmember of the motor upon which the eld windings of the motor are mounted.

Electric current is supplied in the usualmanner through a flexible conductor cord or cable 8 and is controlled by a thumb switch 'I projecting from the housing.

The housing I is terminated in an externally shaft bearings 4 are located. These bearings,

`which are conventional'anti-friction ball bearings, are seated in recesses in the opposite faces of the neck portion 8 of the housing, beyond which the inner races or cones of the bearings preferably, although not necessarily, project. A collar 9 adjustably screw threaded upon the shaft for abutting engagement with the inner bearing `member andv secured in. adjusted position by a lock nut I0 limits axial adjustment of the shaft.

Demountably secured upon the shaft beyond the screw threaded neck 8 is the active hair severing member which comprises a rotary disk like `head II from which project one or more periphtofore, two such fingers I2 have been found amply suiiicient.

screw threaded neck 8 in which certain of the The rotor II preferably abuts uponthe inner bearing element of one of the anti-friction bearings 4 to limit the axial movement of the shaft in opposition to the collar 9. l

Adjustably mounted upon the screw threaded neck 8 of the housing and enclosing the rotor, beyond which its slotted area extends, is a slotted guard cap I3. The cap is preferably of a double angular form comprising an initial conical section I4 agreeing with the angularity of the fingers I2 and within which the rotor operates. Therebeyond the cap I3 is conically contracted more abruptly at I5. The slotted area I6 of the cap extends beyond the juncture of the respective conical sections I4 and I5 of different angularity. with the portion IIIel within the conical section I 4 intersecting the' plane of rotation of the rotor, and the portion I6b within the conical section I5 extending beyond the range of operation of the rotor. While the cap may be slotted throughout its entire periphery. such is not necessary and the slotted portion I6 may be restricted to a comparatively limited area. For convenience several such areas |81, |62, |63. are provided at different radial positions about the circumference of the cap.

By means of the screw threaded adjustment of the cap upon the threaded neck 8, the relation of the conical wall I4 of the cap and the fingers I2 of the'rotor may be varied. The cap is fixedly secured in its adjusted position by a lock collar I'I also threaded on the neck 8 of the housing and abutting on the base margin of the cap.

By retracting the cap relative to the rotor, the

noise.

Al human hair is ordinarily two to three thousandths (.002 to .003) of an inch in diameter.

vHence the clearance of a one half thousandth is too minute to permit a hair to pass therethrough,l and as result the hair is forcibly squeezed or pinched ofi' between the finger I2 andthe side of the cap or guard slot.

It is quite common practice to singe the ends of the hair after cutting to close the channel. The present pinching or squeezing severing operation serves to close the end of the hair stub in somewhat similar manner. l

Microscopic examination shows that the result of the present hair severing action is materially different from' ordinary shaving methods. A hair cut by a conventional type of razor shows an acutely taperedor beveled terminal end. One cut by a more recent mechanical vibratory shaver wherein a shearing action is effected leaves a square, blunt end substantially perpendicular to the axis of the hair. The present pinching action leaves a rounded terminal wherein the hair seems to be uniformly contracted into a substantially semi-'spherical end, with sometimes a minute teat or sprue atthe extreme top of its terminal curva-` ture.

It has been found that-after shaving with the present device of the growth of the beard does 40 not again start so quickly as when other mechanical shavers or. an ordinary razor is used.

The fingers of the rotor being spaced relatively wide apart ail'ord suiiicient interval for the hair to enter well within the fieldv of operation preparatory to being severed. To provide further lag or increased interval the fingers may be unequally spaced and the rotor head suitably counterbalanced, or they may be reduced in number to a single finger. In using the vibratory type s havers now available it is found that the spacing or pitch of the slotted guard ordinarily employed must be proportioned to the type and coarseness of the beard to be shaved. The same pitch or spacing does not work equally well on all beards. Guards of different pitch must be.

interchanged and tried until one of suitable char-A acter is found.

To provide a universal instrument, the guard cap of the present shaver is preferably, although not necessarily, provided with multiple slotted areas |61, |62, |83, having slots of different width and spacing to accommodate beards of different character, including those which are coarse and others which are fine and those which are stiff and hard to cut, and others which cut easily. To find the pitch or spacing of the guard slots most suitable it is only necessary to turn the instrument through a partial rotation to bring diii'erent slotted area in contact with the face. The angular side walls of the conical cap beyond the juncture of which the slotted areas extend greatly facilitate the entry of the hairs into the slots and thence into the range of operation of the rotor. The fact that the rotor has clearance inside' the guard cap and does not wipe across the slots with shearing actionI necessitates less power for operation, or ,conversely affords increased power for hair severing operation and at the same time obviates friction and its resulting heat and wear upon the parts. Likewise, the non-contacting relation of the rotor and guard cap results in 'quiet operation and the coacting edges do not become dulled even after longuse. The construction is such that the operative parts may be quickly and accurately adjusted without special tools and by one unskilled in mechanical arts, and of such sturdy character that it will readily withstand hard usage without injury or deterioration. 4

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of \the char- A accommodate hairs 'of different characteristics,

acter described possessing the particular features y of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in 'its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing anyof its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the v `pended claims.`

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a mechanical shaver, an apertured guard element of truncated conical formLa rotor mounted in concentric relation therewith including a, sweep finger inclined to the axis of rotation in parallel closely adjacent spaced relation with the interior wall of the conical guard; and adjusting means for positively adjusting said sweep finger axially relative .to the slotted guard element, and locking means for maintaining the zone of rotation of the sweep finger and guard element in their adjusted relation.

2.' A mechanical shaver including a circular tapered slotted guard and a rotary sweep mounted in concentric closely adjacent spaced relation interiorly thereof correspondingly inclined to the axis of the tapered guard traversing the and a traveling hair severing member mounted concentrically with the guard element for relative motion in parallel closely adjacent but noncontacting relation therewith and cooperative with the guard member to sever hairs projected through the apertures thereof and common to the different groups of apertures of different character which are optionally selective for shaving operation.

7. In a mechanical shaver, an apertured guard element having therein grouped apertures of sorted widths to accommodate hairs of different characteristics, and a traveling hair severing element mounted for relative motion in parallel closely adjacent but relatively spaced relation with the guard element and common to the apertures of different sizes and operable by motive means, said grouped apertures being of different sizes which are optionally selective for shaving operation.

8. In a mechanical shaver, a circular cupshaped guard member having therein a series of slots extending in parallel generally axial direction, and a rotary sweep concentrically mounted interiorly of the guard member for rotary motion transversely of said slots in a relatively fixed zone of rotation, said guard member` and slots therein extending beyond the zone of rotation of the sweep in a direction inclined thereto through which slot slots of the guard 'in its rotation, and means Y for effecting positive axial adjustment of the -extensions hairs to be cut may pass into the zone of operation of said sweeep.

9. In a mechanical shaver, a conical apertured guard member presenting angularly related apertured faces for contact with the surface to be shaved and wherein the apertures extend across and in opposite directions from the juncture of such angular faces, and a rotary hair severing member correspondingly inclined to its axis .of

' rotation for relative travel motion in closely adrotary sweep relative to the guard and for mainf taining the field of operation of the sweep and the guard in their relatively adjusted relation.

3. In a rotary mechanical shaver, a rotary sweep and a circular cap within which the sweep rotates in relatively spaced relation thereto, including angularly intersecting surfaces both being inclined to the axis thereof said cap having therein a series of parallel slots extending across the intersection of said angularly disposed surfaces from within the zone of rotation of the sweep to points removed therebeyond.

4. A guard element for a mechanical shaver including a circular cap formed with two angularly disposed intersecting conical surfaces of different inclination to the axis of the cap, said cap having therein a series of slots extending in opposite 'axial directions across the juncture of said conical surfaces into both said surfaces, and

-a hair severing member mounted in closely adjacent relation with the slots on one side of the juncture of said conical surfaces.

jacent parallel non-contacting relation with the conical apertured guard, the apertures inone of said angular faces being beyond the zone of operation of said hair severing member and through which hairs to he severed pass from said first angular face to the other and into the zone of operation of the hair severing member contiguous thereto, the rotary hair severing member having motive means therefor, and adjusting means for positively adjusting the rotary hair severing member and the conical apertured guard member axially one relative Ato the other to lvary their spaced relation and to maintain said members in their non-contacting relation with each other.

10. The herein described method of using mechanical shaving devices including the step of relatively adjusting'guard and hair severing elements into closely adjacent non-contacting relation for rapid travel motion one relative to the other by which engaged hairsare pinched of! between said members.

ll. In a mechanical shaver, a slotted guard member presenting angularly related apertured faces for contact with the surface to be shaved posite directions from the juncture oi such angular faces, and a travelinrhair severing member operative in parallel relation with the slotted area of the guard at one side of the juncture of said angular faces, the slots continuing at one side of the juncture of said angular races entirely beyond the zone of operation o! said hair severing member and through which hairs to be cut may pass from one, angular face of the guardl member into the zone oi operation ofthe hair severing member contiguous to the other face thereof.

12. In a mechanical shaver, a recessed handle `having at one end thereofel screw threaded terand whereiny the slots extend across and in P- minal, a rotary shaft having motive means therefor mounted within the handle concentrically with `the screw vthreaded terminal, a 'rotor carried by the shaft in juxtaposition to' the screw threaded terminal, a sweep linger eccentrically carried by the rotor and extending in inclined relation to the axis of rotation of the rotor, a guardcap having screw threaded adjustable engagement on the screw threaded terminal of the handle, said cap including a slotted conical portion the angularity of which substantially agrees Withzthat of the sweep lfinger, in the zone of the slotted area of which `the sweep nger rotates, said cap including a con- 2,8Ba,ial

Iside wall portions extendingthence into another ofthe unaligned sidewall portions of the cap, and

a hair-severing element coacting with one of thev unaligned side wall portions of the cap, so constructed and arranged that hairs entering within the slots in one of said unaligned wall portions of the cap beyond the zone oi operation of the coacting hair severing element may pass thence into the slots inthe other oi said unaligned wall portions and into the zone of operation of the hair severing element.

15. In a mechanical shaver, an apertured conical guard element, a support on which the guard element is mounted and with respect to which the guard element is axially adjustable,y a member carried by the support and cooperating with the' apertured guard element to sever hairs by a pinching action,` said member including a rotor concentrically/positioned within the guard element and having a sweep finger travelingv in parallel relatively spaced relation with the apertured area of the guard element, the construction and arrangement being such that adjustment of the guard element relative to the support varies the spacing between the interior wall of the guard element and the sweep flnger.

tinuing conical portion of increased angularity to the axis of rotation of the rotor into which the slots of the initial portion are extended beyond the zone of operation of the sweep linger, the cap and sweep finger being relatively adjustable into `and out` of contacting relation by the screw threaded adjustment of the cap on the threaded terminal of the handle and means for locking the cap in its position of adjustment relative to the sweep nger.

13. A guard element for a mechanical shaver substantially circular in cross section and having therein a plurality of groups of apertures of d ifferent dimensions selectively usable when shaving hairs having diilerent characteristics, and a traveling hair severing element mounted concentrically with the guard element for relative motion in parallel closely adjacent but non-contacting relation therewith.

14. A guard element for a mechanical shaver,l

comprising a circular cap having side walls .which are unaligned in an axial direction and having therein a plurality of slots in one of the unaligned 16. In a mechanical shaver, an apertured coni- .cal guard element. a support on which the guard element is mounted, a member carried by the support and cooperating with the apertured guard element to'sever hairs by a pinching action, said member including a rotor having a sweep linger traveling in parallel relatively spaced relation with the apertured area of the guard element, and means for relatively adjusting the guard element and the sweep -finger to vary the spacing therebetween. I

17.. In a mechanical shaver, an apertured conical guard element, a support on which the guard element is mounted and with respectto which CERTIFICATE' 'QF ORRECTION. v Patent No. 2,569,198. 'February 15, 1914.5.

.It is hereby certified that verrorappears yin the above'numbered patent requiring correction as folloNs: In the grant, line 1 name of inventor,

. for "HARLOD" read -HAROLD; page 5, first column, 1ine58, claim, after the word "sweep" first occurrence, insert--havingactuating means therefor,; line 61, same claim, after "thereof" insert a comma; and that the saill Letters Patent should be read -with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

vsigned and-sealed this 26th day of Juris, A. D. 19h5.

. Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

